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Backlash scuttles apparent Tennessee deal with Greg Schiano

 
FILE- This Sept. 30, 2017 file photo shows former Rutgers football head coach, now Ohio State associate head coach/defensive coordinator Greg Schiano running onto the field before an NCAA college football game against Rutgers in Piscataway, N.J. Ohio State coach Urban Meyer says Tennessee has contacted Schiano about its head coaching vacancy. Meyer didn't have any additional details about Tennessee's potential interest in his defensive coordinator. Tennessee is seeking a new coach after firing Butch Jones two weeks ago. Schiano posted a 68-67 record as Rutgers' coach from 2001-11. (AP Photo/Mel Evans, file) NYPS201
FILE- This Sept. 30, 2017 file photo shows former Rutgers football head coach, now Ohio State associate head coach/defensive coordinator Greg Schiano running onto the field before an NCAA college football game against Rutgers in Piscataway, N.J. Ohio State coach Urban Meyer says Tennessee has contacted Schiano about its head coaching vacancy. Meyer didn't have any additional details about Tennessee's potential interest in his defensive coordinator. Tennessee is seeking a new coach after firing Butch Jones two weeks ago. Schiano posted a 68-67 record as Rutgers' coach from 2001-11. (AP Photo/Mel Evans, file) NYPS201
Published Nov. 26, 2017

With an apparent head coaching deal in place Sunday, Tennessee and Ohio State defensive coordinator Greg Schiano backed out of the agreement after a huge backlash from fans and state officials on social media and protests on campus.

Schiano has been an assistant at Ohio State the past two seasons. He posted a 68-67 record as Rutgers coach from 2001-11, then replaced Raheem Morris as Bucs coach. Schiano went 11-21 in Tampa Bay, getting fired after two seasons and leaving a legacy of being a control freak who was unpopular with players.

Tennessee (4-8, 0-8 SEC) fired Butch Jones on Nov. 12.

Fans marched to the university athletic center to protest. Signs had messages such as "Schia-NO." One fan noted on Twitter that in 2010, Schiano's Rutgers team lost to Jones-coached Cincinnati 69-38. Ex-Vol Albert Haynesworth wrote on Twitter: "If we hire Greg Schiano as our next head coach my options will be open to which college program I will Be donating my TIME and MONEY to.'' One fan looked for something positive, writing on Twitter: "Better than Lane Kiffin.'' Athletic director John Currie's cellphone number was posted on Twitter as he was in Columbus, Ohio, reportedly finalizing paperwork with Schiano and hoping to introduce him today before the deal fell through.

Much of the criticism stems from Schiano's background as a defensive assistant at Penn State from 1991-95, when Jerry Sandusky was defensive coordinator. Sandusky was convicted in 2012 on 45 counts of sexual abuse for abuse that occurred from 1994-2009. Schiano has said he had no knowledge of what was happening at the time.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick and Ohio State coach Urban Meyer endorsed Schiano, and Mark Dominik, who was Bucs GM when Schiano was hired, gave his support on Twitter: "We spent hours & hours interviewing & background checks on Greg Schiano. Yes we didn't win. Fact-he's honest, awesome father/husband, & an excellent football coach. This shouldn't be whether YOU think you like him or not, you don't even know him.''

MORE COACHING NEWS: Texas A&M fired Kevin Sumlin after six winning seasons, raising speculation that the Aggies are interested in FSU's Jimbo Fisher. Texas A&M could potentially offer Fisher $8 million a year and elite facilities. Sumlin was 51-26 overall and 25-23 in the SEC. His first year, 2012, was his best, going 11-2 with Johnny Manziel at quarterback. That earned him a new contract and a $5 million annual salary, but the Aggies have not won more than nine games since. Sumlin reportedly is owed $10.4 million. … Arizona State fired coach Todd Graham after six seasons. He is owed $12 million. … Mississippi named interim coach Matt Luke to the permanent job.

CLEMSON NO. 1: Clemson is the new No. 1 in the Associated Press poll, taking a close vote with Oklahoma after the top two teams in the rankings lost in the same weekend for the first time since 2012. The Tigers jumped from fourth to No. 1 after routing South Carolina. Auburn rose to No. 4 after beating Alabama, which had been No. 1 all season. Miami fell five spots to No. 7 after a loss at Pittsburgh. The Hurricanes could get a big boost by beating Clemson in Saturday's ACC title game. No. 3 Wisconsin has its best ranking since it was No. 2 on Oct. 21, 1963. No. 14 Stanford moved up six spots after beating Notre Dame 38-20 and faces USC in Friday's Pac-12 title game.

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USF-UCF RATINGS: UCF's 49-42 victory against USF delivered ABC's third-highest audience for a 3:30 p.m. Black Friday game dating to 2002. The game had a 3.2 overnight rating, meaning 3.2 percent of all U.S. televisions in use were tuned in to the game. It represented a 45 percent increase from last year's Nebraska-Iowa game in the same time window. Orlando was the top local market with an 11.1 rating, followed by Tampa (10.1).

michigan: Fourth-year junior quarterback Wilton Speight, an off-and-on starter, said he will spend next season at another school.

Times staff writer Joey Knight contributed to this report.

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